Collect-ing pouch for loose coins



Oct. 18, 1,955

P. HAYES ETAL 2,721,030

COLLECTING POUCH FOR LOOSE COINS FROM COIN-OPERATED MECHANISMS Filed Oct. 4, 1952 2 SheetsSheet 1 PAUL HAYES GEORGE C. LOOMIS INVENTOF Oct. 18, 1955 Filed Oct. 4, 1952 P. HAYES ET AL COLLECTING POUCH FOR LOOSE COINS FROM COIN-OPERATED MECHANISMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /MILNIIM XI qiguv pi PAUL HAYES GEORGE C. LOOMIS INVENTORS United States Patent Ofiice 2,721,030 Patented Oct. 18, 1955 Paul Hayes and George C. Loomis, Seattle, Wash, as-

signors to Loomis Armored Car Service, Inc., Seattle, Wash.

Application October 4, 1952, Serial No. 313,152

6 Claims. (Cl. 232-16) Our invention relates to a pouch to be Worn by a collector in servicing parking meters and other mechanisms from which loose coins are to be collected. The pouch has a shoulder strap for carrying and has a hopper top to receive the coins. The hopper is part of a collecting box having depending therefrom a heavy fabric bag with lock means securing the bag to the box during use. Connected with the hopper is a tortuous passageway and a light, fabric, tubular nozzle is secured to the lower end of the passageway with its lower, weighted end hanging free within the bag and forming a one-way valve. This structure provides an anti-pilfering pouch, the flexible nozzle folding over and sealing the passageway if the pouch is inverted in an endeavor to remove the coins therefrom.

There are many occasions when it is necessary to collect loose coins from coin-operated mechanisms, and the problem of collections from parking meters is used as a specific example of the same. In an endeavor to prevent pilfering in collection, various rather complicated and expensive devices have been provided to make collections Without the collector having access to the coins. One example is to have an individual bank for each parking meter. in addition to the added expense of manufacture, this has the disadvantage of the added weight of the individual metal bank for each parking meter which the servicemen must carry in making collections. Another solution is to provide a collecting device on wheels having a collecting nozzle which interlocks with the parking meter, to deposit coins in the mobile collector, without access of the collector. The mobile collector has some type of valve mechanism in the entrance passageway to prevent removal of coins when disconnected from the parking meter. This type of device is used with varying degrees of success but is expensive of manufacture both in the construction of the parking meter and of the mobile collecting device.

Our solution to this problem is different from those now in use and consists of a new type of collecting pouch providing against pilfering with a minimum of expense in the construction of the collecting device andrequiring no change of structure in the parking meter. The collecting pouch is adapted to service the large number of parking meters now in use which are not adapted for the above-described type of anti-pilfering devices. As no special structure is needed in the construction of new parking meters, the meters may be constructed at a minimum expense.

Our approach is difierent in that it is believed that pilfering by collectors is not done at the site of the parking meter, this being too public. All that is necessary is to provide a pouch into which the coins can be dumped by hand in collecting from the parking meter and to provide a valve arrangement in the collecting pouch of a type preventing removal of coins later, when the collector is in his car moving from one location to another, or in other non-public places. This can be provided with a minimum of expense, without replacement of existing parking meters, and without the necessity of manufacturing meters with expensive mechanism to guard against pilfering. At the same time the present device is substantially as effective in preventing pilfering as the more expensive devices.

The objects of our invention include therefore to provide an inexpensive collecting pouch for loose coins from coin-operated mechanisms such as parking meters; to devise a pouch with a hopper in which such coins may be dumped and having means to prevent return of the coins unless the pouch is unlocked; and to provide a collecting pouch of a minimum weight and which is comfortable to carry.

Our invention will be best understood, together with additional objectives and advantages thereof, from a reading of the following description, with references to the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a specific embodiment of our collective pouch;

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the pouch in use in making collections from a parking meter;

Figure 3 is a view, partly in section, showing the action of the valve mechanism when the pouch is inverted;

Figure 4 is a view, partly in section, showing the details of internal construction of the collecting box; and

Figure 5 is a view taken substantially on line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 2 shows a typical application of the collecting pouch in which loose coins are being collected from parking meter P. The coins are dumped by hand into the hopper of the pouch as the collector goes from one parking meter to the next. The contents of the pouch may weigh as much as 50 pounds before the collector feels it necessary to get another pouch, or return to the collecting office, so it is most desirable that the collecting pouch have a minimum of weight which is one reason that a fabric bag is used. Another reason is that the fabric material is more comfortable against the body especially in carrying the pouch when it is loaded. The pouch is supported by a shoulder strap S which snaps on staples carried by the collecting box 12 of the pouch.

Bag 14 is closed except at its upper edges which are fixedly secured to a frame or collar 20. Collar is formed of two members 22 and 24 and the upper edges of the bag are secured therebetween as by rivets 26, or by other means such as bolts carrying nuts on the inside of collar member 22. Collar 20 is secured to box 12 at one side by hinge 39 which is preferably of a divided type whereby the bag and collar may be separated from box 12. On the other side, frame 20 carries a hasp 32 which engages staple 34 on box 12. When a lock, preferably key operated, is secured to staple 34, the bag is fixedly secured to box 12. When it is desired to open the pouch in the collection ofiice, the lock is removed and the pouch can be separated from box 12.

The means to prevent tampering with the contents of the bag in use comprises tortuous passageway in box 12 and a flexible light, fabric tube or nozzle 42 depending from the lower end of passageway 40. When the top is inverted, tube 42 eifectively seals the opening to passageway 40 by folding over; and to render this action more positive, a plurality of weights is secured to the lower end of nozzle 42. As shown in Figure 3, the coins will pile on the nozzle in the inverted position making it more difficult to be manipulated by manual operation through the bag 14. It will be noted from Figure 5 that the weights are staggered, and this arrangement is preferred; because if the Weights were aligned, it might be possible to grasp them by hand on either side of the bag and spread them to open the passageway for return of coins when the pouch was inverted. To further hadicap manipulation of the tubular valve 40 by hand working through bag 14, it is preferred to stitch nozzle 42, at least at the central point 58 which makes it more difficult to manipulate.

Rod or pin 60 is positioned in the mouth of passageway 40 to prevent the nozzle 42 being snared by a wire having a hook on the end inserted through passageway 49, catching the endofthe nozzle .42 and pulling it inside out into passageway 48 as the wire is removed. Rod 60 would block such inversion of nozzle 42 so as to prevent the disabling of the valve in this way. a

Bag 14 is used instead of a solid coin-receiving chamber to reduce weight and to make the container easier to carry, as before mentioned, but this introduces the possibility that the valve could be manipulated by working through the walls of bag 14.

It will be apparent that many types of mechanical valves could be manipulated by action through the walls of the bag. The valving arrangement described above has proved to be tamper proof by action external of the bag. To render such tampering more difficult the bag is formed of heavy material which would be more difficult to manipulate and the fabric of tube 42 is formed of light materialso as to fold over very easily. When used inthe specification and claims, the term heavy fabric material means a minimum weight of '18 ounce fabric for bag 14 and when the term light fabric material is used in connection with tube 42, this is meant to be a maximum of 12 ounce fabric. The preferred weights are 20 ounce and 10 ounce fabric for the bag and tube respectively. The fabric is preferably canvas.

Passageway 40 is formed with a tortuous contour to make it difficult to in any way manipulate nozzle 42 by operation through passageway 40. The shape and dimensions of passageway 40 make it impossible to reach nozzle 42 by insertion of the hand into the passageway and the passageway has a shapeand size to prevent insertion of a rigid instrument or probe therethrough. The entrance and discharge ends of the passageway are offset and the passageway has several sharp angles forming a zigzag outline.

Little if any loss in coins could result when the collections are made using our pouch. The collections are made in public and there is little likelihood that the collector would fail to dump the coins into the hopper. Ashe is subject to inspection by the supervisor at any time he would hesitate to block the passageway or to in any way prevent the coins from descending to the bag during the public collection. When he is traveling in his car, as for instance back to the collection office, or otherwise is out of public sight, he will find it so difiicult, if not impossible, to manipulate valve 42 to obtain return of coins that the difficulties will outweigh the temptation of pilfering. It will'be observed that this equipment will result in a savings over other forms of anti-tampering devices because the pouch is of economical construction and the parking meters may have merely a collecting chamber with a locked door, without any involved metering apparatus, and without individual banks. The collecting pouch is of light weight and has maximum comfort for carrying.

It is believed that it will be clearly apparent from the above description and the disclosure in the drawings that the invention comprehends a novel construction of a collecting pouch for loose coins from coin-operated mechamsms.

Having thus disclosed the invention, we claim:

1. A pouch, comprising: a housing having side walls arranged generally in a box-shape; an upwardly open bag formed of heavy fabric material; a rectangular collar, of approximately the same horizontal dimensions as said housing, formed by inner and outer interfitted rectangular rigid frames and means unreleasable externally of the pouch securing the upper bag edge between said'frames; a dividable hinge at one side and key operated lock means at the opposite side securing the collar upper margin to the housing lower margin; a zig-zag chute passageway in said housing formed by .rigid walls, inclined to the horizontal, bridging the housing top and downwardly tapering to a size smaller than the human hand in the lower housing portion and terminating adjacent the housing bottom, the passageway walls makingat least two abrupt turns blocking direct vertical passage therethrough; a flexible, tubular nozzle formed of light fabric material depending from the lower passageway end free to fold over when the pouch is inverted and extending below said collar substantially into said bag, two opposed walls of the lower nozzle end being stitched together at their centers and a weight secured to each of said opposed walls adjacent their lower margins and disposed on opposite sides of the stitching, and a bar extending medially from side to side of the passageway lower end preventing pulling of the nozzle inside out through the passageway.

2. A pouch, comprising: a housing having side walls arranged generally in a box-shape; an upwardly open bag formed of heavy fabric material; a rectangular collar, of approximately the same horizontal dimensions as said housing and means unreleasable externally of the pouch securing the upper bag edge inside of said collar;,a hinge at one side and key operated lock means at the opposite side securing the collar upper margin to the housing lower margin; a zig-zag chute passageway in said housing formed by rigid walls, inclined to the horizontal, bridging the housing top and downwardly tapering to'a size smaller than the human hand in the lower housing portion and terminating adjacent the housing bottom, the passageway walls making at least two abrupt turns blocking direct vertical passage therethrough; a flexible, tubular nozzle formed of light fabric material depending from the lower passageway end free to fold over when the pouch is inverted and extending below said collar substantially into said bag; means attaching together two opposed walls of the lower nozzle end at their centers and a weight secured to said opposed walls adjacent their lower margins and disposed on opposite sides of said attaching means, and a bar extending medially from side to side of the passageway lower end preventing pulling of the nozzle inside out through the passageway.

3. A pouch, comprising: a housing having side walls forming an enclosure; an upwardly open bag formed of heavy fabric material; a collar of approximately the same horizontal dimensions as said housing and means unreleasable externally of the pouch securing the upper bag edge inside of said collar; means releasably securing the collar upper margin to the housing lower margin including a key operated lock; a zig-zag chute passageway in said housing formed by rigid walls, inclined to the horizontal, bridging the housing top and downwardly tapering to a size smaller than the human hand in the lower housing portion and terminating adjacent the housing bottom, the passageway walls making at least two abrupt turns blocking direct vertical passage therethrough; a flexible, tubular nozzle formed of light fabric material depending from the lower passageway end free. to fold over when the pouch is inverted and extending below said collar substantially into said bag; means attaching together two opposed .walls of the lower nozzle end at their centers and a weight secured to said opposed walls adjacent their lower margins and disposed on opposite sides of said attaching means.

4. A pouch, comprising: a housing having side walls arranged generally in a box-shape; an upwardly open bag; a rectangular collar, ofapproxirnately. the same horizontal dimensions as said housing, formed by inner and outer interfitted rectangular rigid frames and means unreleasable externally of the pouch securing the upper bag edge between said frames; means including a key operated lock releasably securing the collar upper margin to the housing lower margin; a zig-zag chute passageway in said housing formed by rigid walls, inclined to the horizontal, bridging the housing top and downwardly tapering to a size smaller than the human hand in the lower housing portion and terminating adjacent the housing bottom, the passageway walls making at least two abrupt turns blocking direct vertical passage therethrough and preventing passage therethrough by a rigid probe of any shape; a flexible, tubular nozzle depending from the lower passageway end free to fold over when the pouch is inverted and extending below said collar substantially into said bag; two opposed walls of the lower nozzle end being stitched together at their centers and weight means secured to the nozzle adjacent its lower margin.

5. A pouch, comprising: a housing having side walls forming an enclosure; an upwardly open bag formed of heavy fabric material; a collar of approximately the same horizontal dimensions as said housing and means unreleasable externally of the pouch securing the upper bag edge to said collar; means releasably securing the collar upper margin to the housing lower margin including a key operated lock; a zig-zag chute passageway in said housing formed by rigid walls, inclined to the horizontal, bridging the housing top and downwardly tapering to a size smaller than the human hand in the lower housing portion, the passageway walls blocking direct vertical passage therethrough and preventing passage therethrough by a rigid probe of any shape; a flexible, tubular nozzle formed of light fabric material depending from the lower passageway end free to fold over when the pouch is inverted; and weight means secured to the nozzle adjacent its lower margin.

6. A pouch, comprising: a housing having side walls arranged generally in a box-shape; an upwardly open bag; a rectangular collar, of approximately the same horizontal dimensions as said housing and means unreleasable externally of the pouch securing the upper bag edge inside of said collar; means releasably securing the collar upper margin to the housing lower margin including a key operated lock; a zig-zag chute passageway in said housing formed by rigid walls, inclined to the horizontal, bridging the housing top and downwardly tapering to a size smaller than the human hand in the lower housing portion, the passageway walls blocking direct vertical passage there through and preventing passage therethrough by a rigid probe of any shape; a flexible, tubular nozzle depending from the lower passageway end free to fold over when the pouch is inverted and extending below said collar substantially into said bag; means attaching together two opposed walls of the lower nozzle end at their centers; and weight means secured to the nozzle adjacent its lower margin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

